Vaughn named RTD FasTracks North Metro Rail Line project manager

Vaughn brings more than 25 years of civil engineering experience to his new role as he succeeds Jim Starling, who is heading to San Diego to lead new Jacobs Engineering construction projects.

With a target opening date in 2018, the 18.5-mile North Metro Rail Line will serve Denver's northern suburbs through Colorado Highway 7 in North Adams County.

During his 16-year tenure at RTD FasTracks, Vaughn has fulfilled progressively responsible roles. For the past three years, he served as construction manager of the FasTracks Eagle P3 project, which comprises the East Rail Line to Denver International Airport, the Gold Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge and the first segment of the Northwest Rail Line to Westminster. Vaughn also led field and construction engineering projects and worked in project management on the Southwest and West light-rail lines and the Convention Center expansion, among other projects.

A key component of the North Metro Line will be coordination with the Eagle P3 project because there are many common elements to RTD's passenger rail lines. All will rely on the same type of railcars, a new passenger rail maintenance facility, common signal and electrical components and a single contractor to operate the trains once the lines open.

"Ashland's experience on the Eagle P3 project will be invaluable as North Metro Rail gets underway," said RTD Assistant General Manager of Capital Programs Rick Clarke.

Groundbreaking on the project is scheduled to happen March 20, 2014, and it expected to open to the public in 2018.